#and the Catholic homily is very much ‘here. you’ve got the basics now let’s digest what it means for the human side’

[novelconcepts]

Every time I see someone complain about the wealth of monologues in Midnight Mass, I just want to shake them and whisper, “It is a direct reference to Catholic homilies. It is. It is a direct reflection of the heart of a Catholic sermon.” Every character is granted the ability, regardless of what they believe, to offer the audience their own sermon. Science. Experience with abuse or addiction or bigotry. Hopes for the future. Forgiveness. Every character is given the chance to reflect back to the audience, via a homily, the heart of what’s going on in their world.

It is intentional, y’all.

#midnight mass #midnight mass spoilers #if you’re not a character-centric person I get finding it slow #but every time I see a tweet or a complaint about it being ‘all speeches’ I just want to be like #yes! yes it is! because it’s a character driven piece set against the backdrop of CATHOLIC MASS #Flanagan loves his monologues. there’s no denying that. and it works for me in any context. #but ESPECIALLY in this show #because a well-deployed monologue is not about the character speaking #it’s about showing the importance of people listening to each other #and the Catholic homily is very much ‘here. you’ve got the basics now let’s digest what it means for the human side’ #I’m as far from Catholic as they come but I was raised in this world and seeing Flanagan use it to round out this cast was so smart #and I’m so. annoyed. every time someone just goes ‘yeah I tuned out of all the talking’ #the talking is the point! the community is the point! digest the story and apply it! that’s the whole thing! #Flanagan’s core theme of character is always that the most important thing we can do for each other is listen #which is why bev is so fucking maddening as a character—she is forever cutting other people off to talk over them #yeah the evangelical cruelty of her is the worst but we see it most often in her refusal to sit down and listen #vs Riley and Erin and all the rest of these people being so willing to just. take in other people’s stories and perspectives and pain. #it’s just so cleverly deployed in such a slow-burn fashion #it is so. so intentional as framing.